About Me

I'm a 40 something single mother of 2 - Matt, a United States Marine, who is married to the most beautiful girl in the world, Ashley and Kaitlin 14 going on 21, need I say more... two grandchildren, Tyler and Jordyn who is the applie of Mimi's eye...
I have the most wonderful man in my life right now. Tony is my true soulmate. I am so happy with my life.... it can't get any better than this!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

I am on a rant today ....

My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed by.

Today I read his obituary. Please join me for a moment of silence in remembrance. For Common Sense has served us all so well for so many generations.

Obituary for

Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Aspirin, sun lotion or a sticky plaster to astudent; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't legally defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Do you still remember him? I met one person yesterday who sure doesn't.

Why did I post this you may be asking yourself. Well let me explain. I promise that I will make a long story very short but you will get the jest.

Yesterday I made a visit to the doctors office to pick up a billiing statement to turn into my insurance company. While I was there the lovely receptionist was asking me about my recent trip to Parris Island.

Ahhhh yes how my face just lit up ... the proud smile that crossed my face ... the excitement as I pulled out my small photo album that I carry in my purse with memories of Parris Island and my Marine... my voice as I was stuttering ... couldn't get the words out quick enough...

There was several people in the waiting room ... the ones that I had my back to ... they were in no way part of the conversation.

As I was every so proudly showing Mrs. D my pictures and I heard this woman's voice and she said ...

"Oh, so your son is a Marine?"

I whirl around and ever so politely and proudly say ...

"Why, yes ma'am he is!"

Then it(she) started in....

she said that she was an Army wife, that her husband had served a couple of tours in Iraq, yada, yada, yada ..... and then she preceeded to do NOTHING BUT BAD MOUTH THE MARINE CORPS.

Let me tell you I was livid.... so being the gracious southern lady I am and very proud Marine Mom I just looked.. no wait... glared at her and said politely said

"Thank you for your opinion, however I don't believe that I was talking to you. And please thank your husband for serving our country for after all FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

Now some may say if I were in your shoes I would have said more than that but you know I didn't. I did not in any way want to embarass myself, my son or the Marine Corps. I wanted to be the bigger person and show class and dignity. Which I do believe I did with that statement.

Class & Dignity....Throughout my years as a coach for baseball i would stress those two words to my teams... we lose with class and dignity, we win with class and dignity...anything short of that is...well.. it is that woman in the waiting room

Way to go Dixie, you know I am outspoken about things I believe to be right and when someone crosses my path I try to be respectful while I explain that I am right and they are wrong. Sometimes you get a real asshole and you have to go off on them, with those people I will hold my words as long as I can stand it and then I will explode like a bomb. I have developed the ability to smile at someone while I tell the what an asshole they are.

Good job Dixie! You handled it well. I stood in the checkout line behind an Army wife at WalMart a while back who was badmouthing the Marine Corps to the cashier. I have no idea why. I listened for a bit and then I finally had to say something. I told her that I have two sons who are Marines and that the Marine Corps has been good for them and to them, and I am so very proud. She started backtracking and I just let it go. I felt like slapping her silly, but I restrained myself. :)

Oh, please. This type of woman gives Army wives a bad name. Being one myself, I tend to overhear a lot of this kind of talk between branches of the military... it's like fraternities that sit and bash each other and it's all pretty ludicrous. Serving in any branch of the military is a difficult journey. I definitely have my moments of anger and resentment towards the military but that's to be the case in such a huge organization. Some things work out how you want and some things don't. Each branch of the military has it's stereotype. The Navy is all a bunch of faggots, the Army are a bunch of retards, the Marine's are a bunch of brainwashed killing machines and the Air Force is full of lazy assholes. So, according to the stereotypes that build for no real reason.In reality... and I say this EVEN THOUGH I'm an Army wife, the Marine's are easily the hardest working and least rewarded branch of the service. These stereotypes are unfair and living on a military installation, you hear them all the time. It's ridiculous.Next time some dumb Army wife says something like that again tell her that she can feel free to put on the uniform and see how long she lasts as a Marine. Dean says that even after 8 years in the Army he probably wouldn't even make it off Parris Island...LOL.